The John Morearty Archive

This archive contains the recordings of the late John Morearty, a Northern California peace activist and organizer. The VHS videotapes being digitized contain community media: a weekly cable access talk show, "Talking it Through With John Morearty: Dialogues on War and Peace", that John produced along with the Peace & Justice Network of San Joaquin County during the 1990s and 2000s.

"Talking it Through" discussed local, regional, and state electoral politics, California prison reform, county education initiatives, local arts and culture, Delta water use and other local environmental issues, and other San Joaquin County topics that P&JN felt were not covered in corporate-owned mass media.

Morearty also served as videographer for other Stockton community events, so the tapes also contain recordings of many other local community events, including protests, lectures, and music performances.

John wrote of his work:

My TV documentaries shine the light on people who are doing precious work in this valley: cleansing the waters, farming renewably and profitably, restoring the cities, rescuing addicts with tough love, teaching the young who are in danger of going astray. My microphone hears public officials, millionaire developers, physician acupuncturists, university professors, chicken farmers, judges, ex-cons, volunteer moms, teachers and their students, old soldiers, young kids. Wisdom is where you find it; as Gandhi says, every person’s life experience teaches them something that others need to hear.

“Talking It Through” points to problems and analyzes them, and portrays creative solutions which are happening right now. But the camera also savors the beautiful people and places around us, imperiled though they be. Human beings do not live by good action plans alone. We are moved to action by delight in beauty, and the hope of more of it. I try to evoke delight and hope, so viewers will be moved to act.